Around 11.7 million Brazilians live with depression in Brazil, which is equivalent to 5.8% of the Brazilian population, according to the latest mapping of the disease carried out by the World Health Organization (WHO). Furthermore, the country has the largest number of anxious people (9.3% of the population), according to the entity.
Not surprisingly, the use of antidepressants and anxiolytics has also increased in recent years in the region. According to a study conducted by the specialized company Sandbox, it is estimated that the number rose by 18.6% in the country between 2022 and 2024. Given this scenario, researcher Raquel Aparecida will investigate the impact of this increase on organisms in the aquatic ecosystem.
Winner of the program “For Women in Science “, promoted by the L’Oréal Group in Brazil in partnership with the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), the researcher received a grant of R$50 thousand to develop your research.
“I am implementing my line of research, which is ecology and toxicology, which did not exist here at FZEA [Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, da Universidade de São Paulo]. Consequently, I do not have a ready infrastructure to carry out experiments with my students. So, this money came at a very good time”, says Raquel in an interview with CNN .
Furthermore, the award, in Raquel’s view, strengthens the inclusion of women in science. “The discussion we had on the day of the awards was that women can believe that it is possible, despite so many challenges, such as gender stereotypes. This is an aspect, for example, that is very complex and quite challenging. But it is through the network of women scientists that we will strengthen ourselves for everyday situations”, he states.
Research investigates whether medications can alter the behavior of aquatic animals
Since the beginning of her academic career, Raquel has had a line of research focused on evaluating the impacts of anthropic actions, that is, those associated with human activities, on different ecosystems. His main studies were focused on contaminants such as pesticides and heavy metals.
“Last year, I ended up having contact with a group of researchers from different regions of the world who began to question themselves about possible effects of the increased use of pharmaceuticals on ecosystems, especially psychoactive ones, such as anxiolytics and antidepressants, especially during the pandemic. and post-pandemic”, he says.
The researcher explains that concern about the impacts of anxiolytics and antidepressants on natural systems, including aquatic systems, is greater in Brazil. “Here, in addition to the issue of incorrect disposal of medicines, these compounds [presentes em psicoativos] are not retained in wastewater treatment plants. So, if people are consuming more of these psychoactive substances and there is no barrier to these substances in the aquatic system, what are the effects on the biota of these environments?”, he asks.
This is the main question that will drive Raquel’s research in the coming years. “If a fish, for example, is exposed to a pesticide, and if it has the possibility of escaping, this is a response that I have seen in several studies: it flees to less impacted areas. But will they also escape with anxiolytics or antidepressants? Will the answer when coming into contact with the compound formulated for well-being [humano]will it also impact animals in the same sense? Will it bring any welfare to the fish? Or will continued exposure lead to some dependence?” asks the researcher.
In summary, the objective of the research is to understand how the residual compounds from this type of medicine can alter the social behavior of aquatic animals.
Research can help shape actions to minimize environmental impact
Raquel explains that, in Brazil, there is still little data on how this type of medicine is present in the aquatic environment — and that her work could help expand this information.
“If this mapping work, mainly of wastewater, but also of different microbasins, is expanded, we already know a scenario in which the biota will be exposed. So, it’s great data, but my contribution will be a continuation of this environmental monitoring and understanding what the concentrations are, which urban centers have the most presence of these compounds and which substances stand out”, he states.
Based on this information — and a set of data already present in the scientific literature —, Raquel believes that the community of scientists will be able to support decision-making to change or improve legislation in favor of animal, environmental and human health.
“This perspective, known as ‘one health’, highlights the connection of these pillars. The study of ecotoxicology, that is, the different effects of environmental contamination on the health of ecosystems and biodiversity, is essential for the management of water, soil and public health quality”, he explains.
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This content was originally published in Brasileira investigates the impact of antidepressants and anxiolytics on aquatic life on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
Charles Grill is a tech-savvy writer with over 3 years of experience in the field. He writes on a variety of technology-related topics and has a strong focus on the latest advancements in the industry. He is connected with several online news websites and is currently contributing to a technology-focused platform.
